SOLOMON ISLANDS
THE COPRA TRADE CHINESE GAINING CONTROL. Prose Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. SYDNEY, November 10. (Received November 10, at 10.20 a.m.) Members of the crew of the steamer Duranbah, which has just returned from the Solomon Islands, state that owing chiefly to the low price of copra traders are suffering a great handicap, and many are being forced to relintjuish business to the Chinese, who are gradually gaining control of the trade. Traders at present purchase copra from the natives at £ll a ton. it is then sold to either of _ the two big Pacific trading companies at prices ranging from > £l4 to £l4 10s a ton. Working expenses absorb a greater part of the gross profit, and many traders have been forced to retire. The Chinese traders, however, are still able to continue, owing to their relatively low standard of living. Thev are gradually absorbing the smaller European concerns. The system of trading with the natives also constitutes a grievance with the traders. Previously the islanders were content to, receive stores for their copra; they how demand money.
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Bibliographic details
Evening Star, Issue 19710, 10 November 1927, Page 4
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178SOLOMON ISLANDS Evening Star, Issue 19710, 10 November 1927, Page 4
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